I've noticed that Erik and James seem to be going out of their way to mention the usage of Hero Points in their own campaigns. It got me wondering....
...will we be seeing Hero Points in the PFRPG. Are they Open Content (I don't have my AE book handy)?
I certainly hope so, as I feel this type of mechanic goes a long way toward making heroes a cut above the rest without getting too far into separate systems for them versus everybody else. Of course, in my games the really important bad guys get their own set of points with which to play...
I would obviously want to see specifics on the Pathfinder implementation (I don't really accept anything sight-unseed). But there are enough open game sources (including Unearthed Arcana) from which to pull that this isn't going to be something any one system could say "Hey, that's ours!" I would think.
If they implement them, I really hope they don't repeat the X/forever error: You get a certain amount of action points, and when you use them up, they're gone forever.
Never liked that, and in my experience it leads to players hoarding the points and virtually never using them.
Make it X/day - if you have to use them at all.
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If they implement them, I really hope they don't repeat the X/forever error: You get a certain amount of action points, and when you use them up, they're gone forever.
Never liked that, and in my experience it leads to players hoarding the points and virtually never using them.
Make it X/day - if you have to use them at all.
Our group has per level action points and we use them all the time, especially right before we level up.
(Just wanted to check that you mean action points. Mutants and Masterminds RPG has Hero points, which are similar, but I like them slightly better. Hero Points are closed content, but Green Ronin might let Paizo use them).
Creative Director
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In my game, I give out Hero Cards to each PC when the group accomplishes a major story goal, or when a player does something particularly awesome. They then get to cash in a hero card to avoid an unwanted fate, or to "supercharge" some action they're taking in game. I keep the actual rules as for what happens when you spend a hero card intentionally vague; all the players know is that spending a hero card will ALWAYS have a good result for the PC in some way. It's not just a "free reroll" or something like an action point. It's something you use when you want your character to do something particularly heroic or when you want to avoid a particularly onerous fate. As such... players use them when they need them, since it's pretty obvious when they need to be used.
James your points sound much more like the Old Star Wars Force points I still hope they are optional rules like they are in the SRD
James your points sound much more like the Old Star Wars Force points I still hope they are optional rules like they are in the SRD
*sniff* Force points.. missed those little buggers. I liked Ebberon's Action Points, but I prefer the way force points worked, and I love the intentionally open-ended nature of James' Hero Cards.
I very much like rewarding these types of points for roleplaying and other such actions. Players start with 1-3 at the beginning of every session, they do not carry over to a future session, and they may gain an extra with a particularly good RP scene (other players can even nominate the person to recieve one).
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In my game, I give out Hero Cards to each PC when the group accomplishes a major story goal, or when a player does something particularly awesome.
Yes I agree, you totally sounds like a throw back to the old d6 Star Wars RPG by WEG.
In any case, I don't want "random" action/hero/force points awarded. Either make it X/day or X/level.
Are they Open Content (I don't have my AE book handy)?
Yes. They were included in Unearthed Arcana.
In any case, I don't want "random" action/hero/force points awarded. Either make it X/day or X/level.
Should note from mine (as it might look like I mean "roll a d3 to see how many points you get")--I use a set number as well that is the same for everyone. 1 point for low fantasy, 3 points for high fantasy, and 2 for the standard D&D session. The variable thus is set at the campaign, not by the character class and/or level.
In my game, I give out Hero Cards to each PC when the group accomplishes a major story goal, or when a player does something particularly awesome. They then get to cash in a hero card to avoid an unwanted fate, or to "supercharge" some action they're taking in game. I keep the actual rules as for what happens when you spend a hero card intentionally vague; all the players know is that spending a hero card will ALWAYS have a good result for the PC in some way. It's not just a "free reroll" or something like an action point. It's something you use when you want your character to do something particularly heroic or when you want to avoid a particularly onerous fate. As such... players use them when they need them, since it's pretty obvious when they need to be used.
So...back to my original question: are they going to be part of PRRPG?
Are they Open Content (I don't have my AE book handy)?Yes. They were included in Unearthed Arcana.
No. I'm referring to Hero Points not Action Points. They were introduced in Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed (not Unearthed Arcana) and updated in Monte Cook's Arcana Evolved.
Erik had exposure to them when he played in Monte's game and they were frequently mentioned in Jason's Age of Worms campaign log. A quick look at AE indicates they are not OGL.
Still...Erik and Monte are friends.
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In any case, I don't want "random" action/hero/force points awarded. Either make it X/day or X/level.
Personally, I'm fond of the "per game session" method of some other games. However, I do think that awarding extra points for major accomplishments, good role-playing, etc. should be awarded. However, I feel that extra points also should be awarded either (depending on the nature or reason for the award) during the session (and must be used in that session or be lost next session) or at the end of the session (and must be used during the next session or be lost).
Regardless of the usage (I prefer the "free re-roll" option that James dismissed), I really like connecting them to heroic actions rather than just a per day or per level basis.
In fact, they're my version of story awards. Instead of giving out extra XP when they accomplish the mission, the get a Fate Point.
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Creative Director
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In my game, I give out Hero Cards to each PC when the group accomplishes a major story goal, or when a player does something particularly awesome. They then get to cash in a hero card to avoid an unwanted fate, or to "supercharge" some action they're taking in game. I keep the actual rules as for what happens when you spend a hero card intentionally vague; all the players know is that spending a hero card will ALWAYS have a good result for the PC in some way. It's not just a "free reroll" or something like an action point. It's something you use when you want your character to do something particularly heroic or when you want to avoid a particularly onerous fate. As such... players use them when they need them, since it's pretty obvious when they need to be used.So...back to my original question: are they going to be part of PRRPG?
At this point, no. But the final PF RPG is over a year away. Who knows what that thing'll have in it?
I think it would be interesting to run a poll to see how many DMs are already using a mechanic like this in their games.
After all, if all the other kids are doing it....